He was the son of Lucius (Hedius Rufus) Lollianus Avitus, who was appointed suffect consul in AD 114.
[2] A noted orator, he was elected to the office of consul in AD 144 alongside Titus Statilius Maximus.
[3] Probably around AD 157/8 Rufus Lollianus was appointed the Proconsular governor of Africa; his legatus proconsularis was Gaius Vibius Gallio Claudius Severus.
[4] During his next appointment as Legatus Augusti pro praetore (or imperial governor) of Bithynia et Pontus in 159, he was confronted by Lucian about prosecuting Alexander of Abonoteichus; Rufus Lollianus demurred, claiming not only was Lucian's case weak, but that Alexander's patron, Publius Mummius Sisenna Rutilianus, was too influential to overcome.
[5] Around AD 162, he was assigned a special task when the emperor Lucius Aurelius Verus left for the Parthian campaign.